Issue No. 28: October, 2005
The
Truth: Machakos Link Newsletter
An organ
of communication of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos
“It is not ideologies
that save the world, but only a return to the living God, our creator…. True
revolution consist in simply turning to god who is the measure of what is right
& who at the same time is everlasting love”.
{Pope Benedict xvi}
CHARISMATIC RENEWAL –
CONTINTUATION FROM ISSUE NO. 27
THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE
MERCY–CONTINUATION FROM ISSUE NO. 27
ST. CAMILLUS CATHOLIC HOSPITAL
FAMILY FEAST DAY
FR. JOHN O ‘MAHONY GOES TO THE LORD
EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION – KIBWEZI
DEANERY
MARY IS WOMAN OF THE EUCHARIST
Could it be some kind
of a sect in the making?
A sect is a smaller,
less formally organized than the church.
They are voluntary associations and one is not born into it. It makes no claim to regulate the religious
lives and behavior of those who do not wish to be considered members. This requires some test of religious or
ethical eligibility such as proof of religious commitment (Hamilton,
1995:194). A sect is a small grouping
of people, which aspires to an inward perfection and aims at direct personal
fellowship between its members.
The charismatic
Renewal satisfies some of these characteristics. Right from the inception of the movement, it is said that the
movement grew from a group of young people who felt there was something lacking
in their Christian lives. They wanted
to revive the type of early Christianity where the first Christians were united
heart and soul. The movement tries to
re-enact this type of Christianity in their daily lives. Like the sects, sometimes they are a sign
of protest against the institutionalized Catholicism although they may not
officially articulate it. Like the sects typology, the movement also offers a
place of refuge and aid in times of stress, a sense of family and communal
integration.
However, unlike the
sects, they do not comprise of only an underprivileged category of people. They do not refuse to do military service.
Or to take up offices, or paying taxes, or any other such deviant and social
behavior of sects. Is it then some
kind of Cult?
It consists of a
group whose members gather to practice religion in ways that are secretive,
not-traditional and sometimes deviant by the standards of the society in which
they live (Lecture notes, 2004). Some
groups meet exclusively in certain places and time and worship in ways that are
sometimes suspect to the established Catholic Church. The practice of healing, deliverance, agape, trans-night prayers
and many other practices are also suspect.
However, the Renewal is quite different from the cult in that it is not
rotating around an individual as does the cult. Besides, it is composed exclusively of people who are lonely,
rootless and sometimes confused.
What is the Catholic Charismatic?
Renewal
Sociologically?
If the Catholic
Charismatic does not fit in any of these typologies, what is it
sociologically? To try to understand
the sociology of group formation, it is necessary to look at both the internal
and external dynamics of their development.
These have been analyzed in the latter section where we have categorized
the reasons for the emergence of the movement in the Catholic Church.
There are some background
factors that enable the movement to grow so fast. We can call these causative factors of the proliferation of the
Charismatic Renewal. Here also, we
cannot underestimate the importance of social stressors such as marginality,
isolation and relative deprivation in driving people to join the charismatic
movement which seems to provide a renewed sense of identity, meaning and power
in religious affairs.
Other factors are the
internal dynamics within the Renewal itself in its reward system that enables
it to sustain the members while attracting new ones. This role is played by the gifts of the Holy Spirit that gives
the members the sense of efficacy.
Dr. Fr. Kasomo Daniel
Begin with:
Our Father……Hail
Mary….., the Creed
On the five large
beads
Eternal Father, I
offer you the body and blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved son, Our
Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the ten small
beads:
For the sake of His
sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Conclude with (3
times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty
one, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
This is the prayer
that Jesus dictated to Sister Faustina in Vilnius on September 13 and 14, 1935
(Diary 474-476). He spoke about this
prayer on as many as 14 occasions, explained its purpose and the promises
attached to it.
In the chaplet of
Divine Mercy we are offering to God the Father “the Body and blood, Soul and
Divity”of Jesus Christ the Son of God, His Divine person, and His humanity, to
“beg the remission of our sins and those of the whole world”. We are uniting with the sacrifice of Jesus
offered up on the cross for the salvation of the world. We are appealing to the love which God the
Father bestows on His Son and through Him on all mankind, for in this prayer we
are offering up the beloved Son of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
By praying for “Mercy
for us and for the whole world” we are performing an act of mercy. If we pray the chaplet with trust, and
nurture the disposition necessary for prayer (that is, humility, perseverance
and acceptance of the will of God), we may expect the fulfillment of Christ’s
promises which he attached to the recitation of this chaplet.
It pleases me to
grant everything [people] ask of me, Jesus told Sister Faustina, by saying this
chaplet (Diary, 1541)…. If what you ask for is compatible with my will (Diary,
1731). God’s will express His love for man; and hence anything that contradicts
the will of God is either bad or harmful and cannot be granted by a loving
Father. Very special promises relate to
the hour of death: the grace of conversion and of a peaceful death for those
who pray this chaplet, and for the dying at whose bedside others will say this
prayer. Priests will recommend it to
sinners as their last hope of salvation.
Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this
chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy (Diary,
687). Jesus promised to grant grace to
those who recite this prayer at least once in their lifetime, providing it is
said with an attitude of complete trust, humility, and a sincere, deep sorrow
for sin. By saying this chaplet, said
Jesus, you will be bringing mankind closer to me (Diary, 929). This prayer is for the appeasement of my
wrath (diary, 476).
{Read the next issue
to know more about Blessed Sister Faustina}
Sr. Juliana Kimanzi A.S.N
We Congratulate Rev. Dr. Fr. Joseph Musyoka Nzau
for successfully finishing his studies in Alfonsiana University {Moral Theology} in Rome
Congratulations
On 28th August 2005 for the
first time in the last 83 years since its origin, Machakos District Hospital
was honored to have the Catholic Bishop Martin Kivuva celebrating the mass in
the compound and later visiting the sick in the wards, praying for them and
giving them encouragement. Thanks for the
arrangements of the Hospital Chaplain Fr. Morris Ngonde.
Among the over two
hundred families who stay in Bishop Kioko Hospital and the District Hospital in
Machakos, a great number of them are Catholic Nurses, Doctors and subordinate
staff who have since 1995 joined to pray together and share the word of
God. The group started as a small
Christian community then, later in the year 2001 they were given a full time
priest by Rt. Rev. Urbanus Kioko.
Speaking to the
congregation His Lordship Martin Kivuva gave the reasons why St. Camillus is
the patron for the sick and the Hospitals.
Being a family day for this community, the Bishop spoke during the
homily at length on the topic of “Family in the Modern times”. He gave the dangers which modern
technology, TV, Radio; Computer/Internet is bringing to the family. Dialogue among the parents themselves in
diminishing, teaching and guidance of the young ones is affected by the presence
of Television in the house. To those
who work with the sick the Bishop reminded them that they are privileged
sometimes to help people who are to be with God the next minute they can’t
forget them!
For the first time,
St. Camillus Catholic chaplaincy-Machakos was able to have 23 Christians
receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation and 12 couples renewed their marriage
covenant.
The Vice Chairperson
gave a detailed history of the Hospital Chaplaincy and its growth to the
present day. After the Mass the Bishop
was joined by several priests and the medical Superintendent Dr. S. Mueke to
visit several wards to pray and encourage the sick. Several sick Catholics received a Holy Rosary from the Bishop
himself. The ceremony was concluded
with gifts from His Lordship to the 12 couples and the 23 new solders of Jesus
Christ.
A Member of St.
Camillus
Requiem Masses and
prayers are requested for the Repose of the Soul of the late Fr. John O’Mahony
who went to the Lord on 22/9/2005 at Kimmage in Ireland. Fr. John O’Mahony began the Parishes of
Thatha, Kibwezi and Ndithini. He was buried on 24/9/2005.
May his Soul rest in Peace.
You are all welcome
for the opening of the Catholic Media
Centre on 16/10/2005 at 3.30 P.M. The Centre consists of a Catholic
Bookshop, A Cyber Café, Basic Computer Courses, Marriage Tribunal
Office and Land Board Offices. N.B: Alter Wine, Hosts and Liturgical
Sacramentals are available for Priests and Religious Men & Women.
18th
Sunday, September 2005, is a very memorable day in the life of Christian’s
faithful of Kibwezi Deanery; which consists of four Parishes, Kamindu, Kibwezi,
Kambu and Mtito-Andei. All the Christians
came together at Kibwezi Parish to witness the Deanery’s Year of the
Eucharistic Celebration. The Eucharistic Celebration was led by the Rt. Rev.
Martin Kivuva, Bishop of Machakos Diocese accompanied by the priests within the
Deanery and sisters plus several thousands of men and women both young and
elderly from the four Parishes.
In his homily, the
Bishop stressed the importance of Eucharist as the life of the church and the
central point of the Christian faith. He urged the Christians who failed to
follow this sacramental life, to be humble and get assistance from the priests
and continue with their participation in this sacrament of redemption. He also stressed about the presence of Christ
in the Blessed Sacrament and called upon the faithful to seek spiritual
strength and power from the Eucharist, for it is beyond the material bread we
often see.
The Bishop equally
pointed out to the parents that, the home is the first school for molding their
children's life, thus calling upon them to instill good morals in their
children. On the part of the youths,
the Bishop asked them to take life seriously for the future leadership. Hence, they should participate in church
activities and be lights for others to follow. On the political events of the
time, the Bishop called for peace and calm and cautioned the people to use
their mind rather than emotions in making decisions and choices as this will
bring sobriety in discussion to avoid the civil disobedience and civil strikes.
The Bishop blessed the matrimonial renewal of vows of
about 100 families and later blessed the men’s ties and badges and the women’s
head covers of the CMA{ Catholic Men's association} and CWA {Catholic Women’s association}
respectively. The crowning of the great day celebration was marked with a
solemn procession of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and
Benediction. The Blessed Sacrament was
solemnly carried by the Bishop in a well-decorated pick-up in the procession, a
sign of blessing for the entire Deanery.
The Dean Rev. Fr.
Patrick Nzau, in his speech thanked the Bishop and assured him of their firm
support and commitment to spread the gospel of Christ to the people. The
occasion was also honored by the area Member of Parliament, Honorable Richard
Kalembe Ndile. The MP thanked the Bishop and appreciated very much the role the
church plays in catechizing people to be good Christian using divine assistance
and promised his full support in prayer for the church.
Novice, Patrick Kumakech.
Apostles of Jesus
All Rev. Fathers, Sisters
and Brothers are invited for a one day workshop on the Proposed
Constitution.
Venue: St. Joseph Pastoral Centre – Katoloni.
Date: 19th October 2005 at 9.00 A.M
27TH
Sunday:
Is: 5:1-7, Ps: 80,
Phil: 4:6-9, Mtt: 21:33-43
We often interpret
the parable of the vineyard as about God, his kingdom and Christ. Yet, if we look closely, it also tells us
about ourselves as God’s People.
First, as People we
are privileged. The landowner equipped
the vineyard with everything the tenants needed to do a good job – the hedge,
the winepress and the tower. God not
only gives us a vocation, but also the means to fulfill it.
Second as people we
are free. The owner let the tenants do
their work as they saw fit. He was not
the overseer watching every move. God
gives us our tasks and trusts us to complete them.
Third, because we are
free, we are responsible. We are
answerable for the vocation god has given us. The fruit of our vocation is a
standard of God’s judgment of us as stewards.
Finally human sin is
intentional. The tenants planned their
rebellion, but their plan did not succeed.
Later we are told that the leaders of Israel recognized that Jesus was
talking about them and their stewardship.
Today as Jesus speaks to us about our vocations as stewards-tenants-of
his kingdom, are we faithful?
28th
Sunday:
Is: 25:6-10; Ps: 23,
Phil: 4:12-14, 19-20; Mtt: 22: 1 - 4
We have no knowledge
about the man who was not wearing a wedding garment in today’s Gospel, but we
can imagine how embarrassed we would be in the same predicament! We don’t know if he is among the good or the
bad who have all made it into the banquet hall. It doesn’t seem to matter to the host. The fact remains that he has not prepared himself and he is
speechless when he heard the king’s rebuke and suffers the consequences! We too
have been invited to the eternal banquet when the reign of god is fully
realized. But we must come prepared,
and it is not our outward appearance that will be the determining factor, but
how we have lived our lives because we have all received the wedding garment of
grace in the sacraments. Our individual
stories are a mysterious interaction of divine invitation and free human
response to Christ’s call.
29th
Sunday:
Is: 45:1.4-6; Ps 96; I Thes: 1:1-5,
Mtt: 22: 15 - 21
“Is it lawful to pay
taxes to Caesar or not?” What a loaded question! First there is the Mosaic Law, which forbids making any human
likeness.
Then there is the
political question: the Romans are the occupying forces, is it morally right to
support the oppressor by paying taxes?
And then there’s the Roman law, which demands taxes on pain of
punishment. How could Jesus answer
without offending somebody? He disposes
of the first problem the Mosaic Law, by asking for a coin. If the chief priests and Pharisees carry
them, then it must be permissible to do so.
Then, Jesus makes it clear that obeying civil law does not necessarily
contradict God’s laws. The key is discernment.
The world of emperors
and governments are transitory but God’s realm is ageless. By working for the kingdom here, today, we
will be faithful to our baptismal duties and honour Jesus call to discipleship.
30th
Sunday:
Ex: 22:21-27; Ps: 18;
I Thes: 1:5-10.Mtt:22:34-40
(World Mission
Sunday)
From the book of
Exodus comes the clear lesson: do not
mistreat strangers in your land, have special care for orphans and widows, and
deal honestly with all people. These
laws seem to say nothing about an attitude towards God, but remember they are
part of the covenant between God and his people. Today’s gospel, gives the best possible response to a question
about the commandments: Jesus teaches anew the covenant imperative to love God
and our neighbour. World Mission Sunday calls us to put this summons into
practice Jesus’ message is a MISSION for all of us. Our Lord expects faith, hope and charity to
shine through our deeds and interactions with others. Spreading the GOOD NEWS and building up of God’s reign of
love is the mission we are urged to adopt today and every day.
31stSun: Mal:
1:14.2:2, 8-10; Ps: 131; I Thes 2:7-9.13; Mt: 23:1-12
To serve God humbly
is the greatest of all callings, but we all like the place of honour at
banquets and to be seen as important people and yet, at other times, we try to
project the opposite image – one of complete humility. I read today that a truly humble person is
like a river that bends and flows as it meanders along. It remains a river. Humility is accepting who we really are.
Jesus exposes what we ourselves anguish over – the gap between our beliefs and
our actions. This exposure should make
all Christians uncomfortable. Others
may judge by what they see, but God judges what is in the heart.
SR.ANNA DENNEHY
R.N.D.M
The church, which looks to Mary as a model, is
also called to imitate her in her relationship with this most Holy
mystery. Mary can guide us towards this
most holy sacrament, because she herself has a profound relationship with it.
In repeating what Christ did at the Last
Supper in obedience to his command: “Do this in memory of me!” we also
accept Mary’s invitation to obey him without hesitation: “Do whatever he
tells you.” (Jn: 2:5). With the same maternal concern which she showed at the wedding
feast of Cana, Mary seems to say to us: “Do not waver; trust in the words of
my son.” If he was able to change
water into wine, he can also turn bread and wine into his body and blood, and
through this mystery bestow on believers the living memorial of his Passover,
thus becoming the ‘Bread of life’”…
Experiencing the memorial of Christ’s death in
the Eucharist also means continually receiving this gift. It means accepting – like John – the one who
is given to us a new as our Mother. It
also means taking on a commitment to be conformed to Christ, putting ourselves
at the school of his Mother and allowing her to accompany us.….The Magnificant expresses Mary’s
spirituality, and there is nothing greater than this spirituality for helping
us to experience the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist has been given to us so that our life, like that of Mary
may become completely a
Magnificant…..
Family Link
It was pomp during
the diocesan senior youth festivals which were held at St. Mary’s Boys Primary
School, Machakos on the 27th August. Sparks flew as deaneries flexed muscles displaying extra-ordinary
theatrical prowess. It was unlike any
other of its type in recent years.
While officially opening the festivals whose theme was “We have come
to worship him, Matt: 2:2”.
The Diocesan youth
chaplain Rev. Fr. Bernard Musyoki accompanied by several deanery and parish
chaplains told the participants that the festivals were not only for
competition but were instrumental in evangelizing. He commended the Youth for the high quality performance and urged
them to nurture their creative talents into careers.
The festivals brought
together the Diocesan’s best performing youth.
A verse by former national champions from Machakos Cathedral captivated
the audience as the festivals came to a close.
They were given a standing ovation and won in the choral verses
category. Kaani youth from Kithangaini parish won both their own composition
and set piece in the music category while Kaseve from the same parish won the
dance honors. Machakos cathedral were
the runners-ups in the dance category which showed hidden talents.
The winning teams
will represent the diocese at the National festivals scheduled to be held at
the national Youth Centre, Mji wa Furaha, Nairobi on 26th November
2005.
Harwin Mwendwa
October
1st Mwala Girls Prize Giving Day
2nd Kilungu Deanery Year of Eucharist.
7th-9th Kilungu Parish Confirmation
10-14th Diocesan Retreat
16th Machakos Deanery Year of the Eucharist held at Machakos Stadium.
17-20th Kathozweni Parish Confirmation
19th Seminar-Proposed Constitution
22nd Kaumoni
23rh Closing of the Year of Eucharist –Makueni Deanery
27th Ufungamano - Nairobi
28th Kathonzweni Parish Confirmation
30th Kangundo Parish Confirmation
November
5th-6th Kanzalu Parish Confirmation
7th-8th KEC
12th Kikumini - Matiliku
13th Kamuthang’a - Mitaboni
15th Deans Meeting
16th Kamuwongo - Kitui
18-20th Ngunga Parish
25-27th Kyale Parish
29th Kitwii Confirmation
30th Mbitini Commissioning Catechists - Mbikira Maria
“My Life is my
message” MAHATMA GHANDI
Life is a mystery to
be lived not a problem to be solved. ADRIAN VAN KAAM C.S.S.P
Catholic Diocese of Machakos
P.O. Box – 344 - 90100, Machakos
Tel. +254-044-20484; Fax-254-044-21308
E-mail: bishopsomks@wananchi.com
Website: http//www.machakosdiocese.org